Representatives of Hi-Tor Animal Shelter joined State Senator David Carlucci in his Nanuet office to warn residents about the possibility of finding poisonous lead in holiday decorations including artificial Christmas trees.
“I want to make sure that families are protected and informed this holiday season” Carlucci said. “Consumers need the tools to protect their children and pets. We have a right to know how our Christmas decorations are made."
According to a release from Carlucci's office, 85 percent of artificial Christmas trees sold in the United States were made in China, and many of those products include PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastic. Studies have linked PVC to lead, with items such as an artificial Christmas tree containing enough lead dust to be dangerous to children and pets.
“Artificial Christmas trees and other holiday decorations pose a significant risk to children and family pets," said Hi-Tor Animal Shelter President Roberta Bangs. "We are here today to support Senator Carlucci’s legislation that will make for a more informed consumer and a happy and risk free home.”
Carlucci is proposing legislation that would call for warning labels on holiday decorations containing lead which are sold in New York State. The bill would:
- Require that a warning label list all hazardous chemicals and any precautionary measures that should be taken before handling a tree.
- Indicate that the responsibility lie with the store selling the product so as to make sure every box has this label
- Include financial penalties for any person, firm, corporation or association who violates the requirement, subject to a civil penalty of no more than $1,000
- Would require this warning label be on products containing paint or other similar surface-coating material, or is made of any plastic material
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